Iran's Supreme Leader Picks New Revolutionary Guard Chief
Iran's supreme leader has appointed a new head to the country's powerful Revolutionary Guard, just after the U.S. designated the paramilitary force a terrorist group.
Tehran, Apr 21 (AP) Iran's supreme leader has appointed a new head to the country's powerful Revolutionary Guard, just after the U.S. designated the paramilitary force a terrorist group.
State-run Iranian media gave no reason for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's decision to replace the Guard's commander.
Taking over will be Gen. Hossein Salami, a 59-year-old who had been serving as a deputy commander in the Guard.
He replaces Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, who had been in charge of the Guard for over 11 years.
The Revolutionary Guard is a separate force from Iran's standing military. It also oversees the country's ballistic missile program and runs its own intelligence operations.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration designated the Guard a terrorist organisation.
Iran responded by designating the U.S. military's Central Command as a terrorist organisation. (AP)
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)